Linking linear programming and spatial simulation models to predict landscape effects of forest management alternatives

Forest management planners require analytical tools to assess the effects of alternative strategies on the sometimes disparate benefits from forests such as timber production and wildlife habitat. We assessed the spatial patterns of alternative management strategies by linking two models that were developed for different purposes. We used a linear programming model (Spectrum) to optimize timber harvest schedules, then a simulation model (HARVEST) to project those schedules in a spatially explicit way and produce maps from which the spatial pattern of habitat could be calculated. We demonstrated the power of this approach by evaluating alternative plans developed for a national forest plan revision in Wisconsin, USA. The amount of forest interior habitat was inversely related to the amount of timber cut, and increased under the alternatives compared to the current plan. The amount of edge habitat was positively related to the amount of timber cut, and increased under all alternatives. The amount of mature northern hardwood interior and edge habitat increased for all alternatives, but mature pine habitat area varied. Mature age classes of all forest types increased, and young classes decreased under all alternatives. The average size of patches (defined by age class) generally decreased. These results are consistent with the design goals of each of the alternatives, but reveal that the spatial differences among the alternatives are modest. These complementary models are valuable for quantifying and comparing the spatial effects of alternative management strategies.     

Perception and Attitude of Residents Toward Urban Green Spaces in Guangzhou (China)

Fast economic and social changes in recent years in China have brought massive expansion, redevelopment, and restructuring of cities. These changes offer cities the opportunity to improve environmental quality through urban green spaces (UGSs) and to address the challenges of meeting community aspirations. This study explored peoples’ minds concerning UGSs in Guangzhou city in south China in relation to the following: (1) knowledge and perception of 25 ecosystem services and 8 negative impacts; (2) attitude toward site condition and management; (3) expectation of landscape design; and (4) preference ranking of venues. A questionnaire was designed to solicit opinions from 340 respondents randomly chosen from residents living in the study area. The results indicated widespread recognition of ecosystem services and strong support of UGS programs. Negative responses were weakly expressed. Amelioration of urban microclimate and environmental quality were emphasized. Environmental functions stressed in publicity programs, together with aggravating environmental problems in the city, tended to focus respondents’ attention on UGS benefits. Wildlife habitat, species conservation and other natural ecosystem services drew limited concerns. Awareness of economic benefits was very low. Visual-landscape contributions with strong preference for naturalistic design and recreational benefits were highlighted. Compared with other countries, Guangzhou residents were characterized by visual–scenic–recreation orientation and pragmatic–utilitarian perception of UGSs, reflecting underlying differences in the understanding of inherent ecosystem services of green spaces. Relevant UGS policies and practices could adopt the approaches of market survey, citizen participation, and precision planning in order to meet increasingly mature and refined demands. Citizens’ understanding of high-order ecosystem services could be enhanced to encourage appreciation of nature and their associated benefits.     

Fish Assemblage Responses to Water Withdrawals and Water Supply Reservoirs in Piedmont Streams

Understanding effects of flow alteration on stream biota is essential to developing ecologically sustainable water supply strategies. We evaluated effects of altering flows via surface water withdrawals and instream reservoirs on stream fish assemblages, and compared effects with other hypothesized drivers of species richness and assemblage composition. We sampled fishes during three years in 28 streams used for municipal water supply in the Piedmont region of Georgia, U.S.A. Study sites had permitted average withdrawal rates that ranged from < 0.05 to > 13 times the stream’s seven-day, ten-year recurrence low flow (7Q10), and were located directly downstream either from a water supply reservoir or from a withdrawal taken from an unimpounded stream. Ordination analysis of catch data showed a shift in assemblage composition at reservoir sites corresponding to dominance by habitat generalist species. Richness of fluvial specialists averaged about 3 fewer species downstream from reservoirs, and also declined as permitted withdrawal rate increased above about 0.5 to one 7Q10-equivalent of water. Reservoir presence and withdrawal rate, along with drainage area, accounted for 70% of the among-site variance in fluvial specialist richness and were better predictor variables than percent of the catchment in urban land use or average streambed sediment size. Increasing withdrawal rate also increased the odds that a site’s Index of Biotic Integrity score fell below a regulatory threshold indicating biological impairment. Estimates of reservoir and withdrawal effects on stream biota could be used in predictive landscape models to support adaptive water supply planning intended to meet societal needs while conserving biological resources.     

流域立法视角下生态流量保障的制度供给--以长江流域为例

生态流量保障的重难点在于流域生态流量不足问题的妥善解决。生态流量不足基于产生的原因可分为“自然型”和“人为型”。“人为型”生态流量不足的根源在于《水法》第4条规定的三生用水关系未得到妥善处理,实质上是水资源分配和管理不合理所致。具体表现为水资源保护理念镶嵌在制度表层、生态流量缺乏核心制度保障、流域规划匮乏强效监督机制、流域水资源分配信息公开不足、末端行政考核制度偏重水质管控、生态用水制度顶层设计与地方实施间落差巨大等。流域立法作为立法体系的中间环节,对上位法具有填补协调功能,对地方立法具有引领指导作用。建议在流域立法过程中,通过制度设计解构流域生态流量保障现存的制度困境,主要包括以下几个方面:一是完成流域特有保护理念到实体制度的转型。二是基于流域生态修复、水资源生态红线管控制度的开展以及有效衔接规划环境影响评价制度的需要,建立生态流量管控指标制度体系不可或缺。三是基于流域规划对三生用水的初始分配性,将生态流量供给纳入流域规划体系中,从水资源分配初始阶段保障生态流量,同时强化流域水资源规划制度的监督机制,健全规划制定的程序性规范,明确科学考察和调查评价人员的构成规则、方式及模式。四是依法加深政府信息公开程度保障公众的知情权、参与权及监督权。五是完善行政考核制度体系强化对生态流量供给的考核。     

城市控规单元防灾能力评价的有向加权图模型研究

为从城市具体规划建设的视角进行防灾能力评价,找到城市空间与设施的防灾薄弱环节,提升城市的防灾减灾能力,首先,在深入分析城市抗灾-救灾理念的基础上,从抗灾能力和救灾能力2个方面,建立适用于控制性详细规划层面的防灾能力评价指标体系;其次,基于防灾能力评价指标体系构建城市防灾有向加权图模型,通过PageRank算法对用地单元防灾能力值进行排序,实现防灾减灾能力的定量评价;最后,通过某市规划实例检验评价模型,针对控规单元的防灾问题提出规划提升措施。研究结果表明：所构建模型能够实现对各控规单元的防灾能力等级评价,反映城市控规单元防灾能力的分布情况,发现用地单元规划建设中的防灾减灾问题。     

河流水质系统的灰色规划方法和应用

借助于河流水质灰色模型,可以对河流水质系统进行灰色规划。灰色规划考虑了实际河流水质系统中客观存在的不确知因素和偶然因素影响,概述了河流水质系统的灰色规划模型的构造、河流水质系统灰色规划模型的求解及其在四川沱江水质系统规划中的应用。     

搞好工业发展规划是解决城市环境问题的基本途径

城市环境污染问题是多方面、多层次的,解决城市环境问题的途径也是多方面、多层次的。该文通过本钢“400万吨钢"发展规划的环保分析,提出了搞好工业发展规划是解决城市环境问题的基本途径。本钢通过发展规划、实施技术改造,不但能够消除一些老污染源,而且还为污染的进一步治理提供了经济、技术基础,其环境效益显著。      

A Systems Approach to Biodiversity Conservation Planning

With a recent media-fueled transition from a scientific to a political perspective, biodiversity has become an issue of ethics and ensuing values, beyond its traditional ecological roots. More fundamentally, the traditional perspective of biodiversity is being challenged by the emergence of a post-normal or systems-based approach to science. A systems-based perspective of living systems rests on the central tenets of complexity and uncertainty, and necessitates flexibility, anticipation and adaptation rather than prediction and control in conservation planning and management. What are the implications of this new perspective? This paper examines these challenges in the context of biodiversity conservation planning. The new perspectives of biodiversity are identified and explored, and the emergence of a new ecological context for biodiversity conservation is discussed. From the analysis, the challenges and implications for conservation planning are considered, and a systems-based or post-normal approach to conservation planning and management is proposed. In light of the new perspectives for biodiversity, conservation planning and management approaches should ultimately reflect the essence of living systems: they should be diverse, adaptive, and self-organizing, accepting the ecological realities of change.     

推动生态环境规划数字化转型的研究与思考

生态环境规划在国家生态环境治理体系中发挥了越来越重要的作用。数字化技术是生态环境规划的基础工具,对于提升生态环境规划编制与实施的系统性和科学性发挥重要的作用。本文在回顾生态环境规划相关数字技术发展历程的基础上,指出了未来生态环境规划数字化转型的重要意义和必然趋势,分析了传统生态环境规划存在的一些技术方法落后、与信息化技术融合有待深入、信息化基础建设薄弱等问题和挑战,提出了生态环境规划未来数字化转型的若干建议,包括加强数值模拟、大数据分析、数字空间分析、虚拟现实等数字化技术的应用。     

新加坡绿道建设对潮州城市绿道系统规划的启示

目前潮州城市城市建设的迅猛发展使得生态环境呈超负荷的状态,而绿道建设和推进能有效推动我囯城市生态环境的良性发展。花园城市新加坡的绿道系统及整体生态环境的发展有许多经验可借鉴和采纳,本文通过总结出新加坡绿道建设的一些优秀案例,提出适用于潮州城市绿道建设的建议,为潮州城市"城市绿道网络系统与慢行系统"的规划与建设作支撑,推进生态环境建设。